Our current mess is different from the Lehman-related horror because it stems primarily from politics, not economics. The previous fear-fest came about because Lehman's bankruptcy disrupted financial markets in unanticipated ways. Today's crisis was completely avoidable. You can blame it directly on the fools who brought our country to the brink of defaulting on its debts in the name of saving us from … I'm not sure what. Yes, the Tea Party types bear primary responsibility -- but they couldn't have done it without the cowardice and incompetence of the Obama administration, which let things get way out of hand. This whole fiasco just enrages me. And it ought to enrage anyone who wants the U.S. to act like a real country rather than some third-rate failed state run by fanatical factions that hate one another.

For many of us without good jobs, no jobs and working part time or contract. We are much weaker from years of bad economy. It takes years to recover. Very few have recovered. We don't have any funds left to fight another recession.

We need to declare this the Great Depression II and be done with it. Many can't collect Unemployment Insurance, because we exhausted and don't have enough weeks to qualify.

I have 10 weeks, I need 10 more in my state. Fortunately I am on early SS now. It pays the same as UI. Still need a job.